senators will take up a simple up or down vote on hagel. confirmation is assured difference democrats have a majority in the senate. president obama's choice for secretary of treasury one step closer to confirmation as well. >> widen. >> mr. widen? >> mr. schumer. >> aye. >> miss stabenow? >> senate finance committee voted 18-5 to send jack lew's nomination to the full senate for a final vote. four republicans joined all 14 democrats in favor. lew was the president. chief of staff for a year. he was nominated in january to succeed timny geithner? we are waiting for president obama to talk about the forced spending cuts that that would take effect on friday. we'll bring it to you live. we're watching an event out of virginia. we'll bring it to you as soon as he starts to speak. first of all, i want to bring our political panel back to talk about what this means, politically, but also what does it mean for all of us, the real deal in all of this. john king in washington, dana bash on the hill, jessica yellin at the white house. so, john, firs